Science: Pandemic propels global effort to study rare vaccine side effects
The Global Vaccine Data Network (GVDN) is the largest ever vaccine safety project involving more than 20 countries and data from more than 250 million people vaccinated against COVID-19.
It aims to investigate and understand rare vaccine side effects such as myocarditis, 血栓形成伴血小板减少综合征 和 吉兰-巴利综合征 following COVID-19 vaccination which may lead to the prediction, treatment and prevention of side effects.
The following article discusses the importance of globalising vaccine safety research through international collaboration to improve vaccine safety.
To read more, please click on the link below.
Science: Pandemic propels global effort to study rare vaccine side effects
ATAGI advice on use of sedation for COVID-19 vaccination
ATAGI has provided guidance regarding the use of sedation in individuals with anxiety disorders, needle phobia or behavioural disorders, to assist vaccine providers in delivering COVID-19 vaccines.
The advice outlines:
- indications for sedation
- safety implications of delivering vaccines under sedation
- procedural sedation guidelines
- post-vaccination observation recommendations
- opportunistic vaccination during sedation for an unrelated procedure
To read the ATAGI recommendations in full, please click on the link below:
ATAGI advice on use of sedation for COVID-19 vaccination
For further information on strategies to manage needle phobia and immunisation, including sedation, please click on the link below:
MVEC：针头恐惧症
Moderna: COVID-19 Vaccine Phase 2/3 Study in Children 6 Months to ≤ 6 Years successfully meets its primary endpoint
Moderna has announced interim data from the Phase 2/3 KidCOVE COVID-19 vaccine study ahead of its submission to global regulatory bodies.
Approximately 4,200 children aged 2 to <6 years and 2,500 children aged 6 months to <2 years were recruited across the U.S. and Canada with participants receiving 2 doses of 25 μg, 28 days apart (a lower dose compared with older age groups).
Moderna reports immunogenicity consistent with that seen in adults (18-25 years) receiving doses of 100mcg with a vaccine efficacy of 43.7% in those aged 6 months to <2 years and 37.5% in those aged 2 to <6 years. Omicron was the predominant COVID-19 strain circulating during this trial.
Adverse events following vaccination were reported as mild or moderate and more frequently associated with dose two. No deaths, myocarditis, pericarditis, or cases of multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C) were reported. Independent safety monitoring will continue for 12 months following the second dose.
To read the press release in full, please click on the link below:
COVID-19 Vaccine Phase 2/3 Study in Children 6 Months to ≤ 6 Years successfully meets its primary endpoint
ATAGI 关于冬季加强剂量 COVID-19 疫苗建议的声明
作为冬季准备工作的一部分，ATAGI 已为被确定为患严重 COVID-19 疾病风险最高的特定人群提供了额外的 COVID-19 疫苗冬季加强剂量的建议。 这些团体包括：
- ≥ 65 岁的个人
- 老年护理或残疾护理机构的居民
- ≥ 16 岁的个人 严重的免疫功能低下
- 50 岁以上的原住民和托雷斯海峡岛民。
根据 2022 年流感疫苗接种计划，将于 4 月开始推出冬季加强剂，两种疫苗可以在适当的情况下联合接种。 COVID-19 疫苗的冬季加强剂量可以从前一次加强剂量/确认的 SARS-CoV-2 感染（以较晚者为准）起 ≥ 4 个月开始接种。
mRNA 疫苗（Comirnaty（辉瑞）或 Spikevax（Moderna））仍然是用作加强剂量的推荐品牌，Vaxzevria（阿斯利康）可用于对 mRNA 疫苗有禁忌症的人。 Nuvaxovid (Novavax) 可用于认为没有其他疫苗品牌适合的情况。
ATAGI 表示，目前没有足够的证据支持为其他人提供额外助推器的建议。对于这些群体，通过 COVID-19 疫苗初级疗程和随后的 1 剂加强剂的保护继续提供良好的保护，避免因 COVID-19 疾病住院。随着更多证据的出现，未来可能会考虑进一步的建议。
要完整阅读建议，请点击以下链接。
ATAGI 关于冬季加强剂量 COVID-19 疫苗建议的声明
The Conversation: Flu, COVID and flurona: what we can and can’t expect this winter
With international borders open and public health measures alleviated, it is highly likely that COVID-19 and influenza will be circulating simultaneously in Australian communities this coming winter.
This article addresses some probable outcomes and provides helpful tips on how people can protect themselves during this flu season.
Click on the link below to read the full article:
Flu, COVID and flurona: what we can and can’t expect this winter
《纽约时报》：在非洲，多种枪击事件推动了不确定的新冠疫苗接种进程
尽管许多富裕国家在使用辉瑞和 Moderna 疫苗进行 COVID-19 加强疫苗接种方面进展顺利，但非洲国家仍然依赖许多研究人员认为会降低疫苗功效的产品和给药方案。
整个非洲大陆的新冠疫苗接种率平均约为 14%，专家透露，疫苗接种存在一些需要考虑的障碍，并警告第五波可能更致命的浪潮即将到来。
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《纽约时报》：在非洲，多种枪击事件推动了不确定的新冠疫苗接种进程
CDC: Effectiveness of COVID-19 Pfizer-BioNTech BNT162b2 mRNA Vaccination in Preventing COVID-19–Associated Emergency Department and Urgent Care Encounters and Hospitalizations Among Nonimmunocompromised Children and Adolescents Aged 5–17 Years
A recent study conducted by the CDC and the VISION Network examined 39,217 emergency department (ED), urgent care (UC) encounters and 1,699 hospitalisations among persons aged 5 to 17 years with COVID-19–like illness during April 9, 2021–January 29, 2022. The study employed a case-control test-negative design to estimate the VE of two doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine in preventing COVID-19 associated hospitalisations in this cohort.
Click on the link below to access the study findings:
CDC: Effectiveness of 2-Dose BNT162b2 (Pfizer BioNTech) mRNA Vaccine in Preventing SARS-CoV-2 Infection Among Children Aged 5–11 Years and Adolescents Aged 12–15 Years — PROTECT Cohort
The CDC has released the findings of a recent PROTECT study, assessing the efficacy of two doses of Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine in preventing infection from the Omicron variant amongst children 5 to 11 and adolescents 12 to 15 years of age. The study included clinical data from a cohort of 1,364 participants gathered from July 2021 to February 2022.
The report provides evidence that two doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine is effective in preventing both asymptomatic and symptomatic SARS-CoV-2 infection in this cohort.
Click on the link below to read the full report:
New global vaccine trial launched to evaluate fractional COVID-19 booster shots
CEPI will provide up to AU $12.3 million to support a global clinical trial led by the Murdoch Children’s Research Institute (MCRI) on the potential merits of administering a reduced COVID-19 booster dose. The trial which will include up to 3300 healthy adults across Australia, Indonesia and Mongolia coincides with a large-scale global initiative to increase access to COVID-19 vaccines.
“Our project, announced today with CEPI, will specifically examine how best to vaccinate communities with follow-up booster shots and the timings around these subsequent booster doses. And while fractional doses could provide the opportunity for great savings for countries, they are also likely to produce less side effects, which will improve the acceptability of booster doses” MCRI’s Professor Kim Mulholland.
A similar strategy, known as fractionation has previously been used to maximize global vaccine supply during outbreaks of Yellow fever, Polio and most recently, for the experimental rotavirus vaccine.
To fund this important work, CEPI’s Global Pandemic Preparedness Summit will take place next month, bringing together leading figures from across the world to work on this urgent global health initiative.
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New global vaccine trial launched to evaluate fractional COVID-19 booster shots
Recording now available: Healthed Going Viral Podcast featuring A/Prof Nigel Crawford
On Tuesday 1st March, MVEC’s Associate Professor Nigel Crawford delivered the COVID-19 Update as part of the Healthed Australia online lecture series.
In this lecture, A/Prof Nigel Crawford discussed the following:
- A clinical overview of Novavax
- Is a fourth booster imminent for Australia?
- Post-COVID cardiovascular risk
To access the recording, please click on the link below:
Healthed Going Viral Podcast featuring A/Prof Nigel Crawford